Flying Kiwis – October 25
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
If you want goals then this week’s Flying Kiwis has got ‘em. Starting with the main man, the All Whites’ all-time leading goal scorer. Chris Wood added another one to the tally against DR Congo recently and then turned back up for Nottingham Forest with a man of the match brace in a 2-2 draw against Luton Town.
Woodsy is in a small pocket of opportunity while Taiwo Awoniyi is out injured... and coming out of the international break there was news that Awoniyi is nearing a return to training after his groin strain. Not to where he was ever going to be available for this game (sounds like he’ll be a couple more weeks on the outer) but it was a reminder that Chris Wood, who also started the draw with Crystal Palace prior to the break, would only get a limited amount of time to stake his claim. The Woodsman had to make hay while the sun shone. And mate did he ever.
Luton Town are a bit stretched at this level so in a way it was like Wood was back in the Championship. A favourable match-up and he immediately set about making the most of it. Not only that but the fellas around him were actually trying to feed him, even more so after they saw that chances were emerging. Especially the bro Anthony Elanga who was doing his bit to make amends to the nation of Aotearoa after scoring for Sweden against NZ a couple months back. First half provided more frustration than success. Wood missed a couple of half-chances as the teams hit the sheds at 0-0. The fact that there were chances at all was several steps above what he’s been dealing with for the last two years but eventually you have to put something away. Three minutes into the second half he did exactly that...
Mint. Awesome to see Woodsy gunning it in those moments and it was a great angled run back across, putting the defender in a position where he couldn’t really challenge without risking a last-man foul, and then a tidy finish to dink it past for the goal. Later in the half he repeated the dose, this time from a more expected course of action as he pumped in a header from an Elanga cross (Elanga set up both goals). This was the first time that Woodsy has scored twice in a Premier League game since April 2021 when he got a hat-trick for Burnley against Wolves. Forest were in control. Forest had a couple of goals to show for it. Outstanding footballing activities.
But then Forest bottled it by conceding twice in the last ten minutes, including a 90+2nd minute equaliser. Soft goals from a tired team that failed to close things out. Woodsy almost took his heroics into the stratosphere when he put the ball in the back of the net even later but he was offside so it didn’t count. Should’ve won. Had to settle for a point. Unfortunately that does put a spotlight on some of the chances that Wood didn’t score... but he put two of his seven attempts in the goal, can’t be mad at him for not getting a third. They were 2-0 up after 82 minutes and that should have been enough.
Shame about the result. Magnificent about Chris Wood. The reason he didn’t score many goals these past two seasons was because the service wasn’t there. Burnley were imploding towards relegation for six months. Then he went to Newcastle for half of two seasons in which he performed a crucial role but, as a short-term option, they never really tried to adapt their attacking game to involve him any more than as a hold-up player and the first arrow of the defensive press. Then came six months at Forest where nobody knew how to cross before he got injured. This was different.
Here he was the focal point of their attacks. His best two seasons at Burnley he was averaging better than two shots per game. Last season he only had 11 shots in total. He had seven against Luton Town. Last season he had 2.8 xG across the whole thing (for three goals), he had 1.75 xG in this one game alone (for two goals). This was more than a throwback, this was a game that stands amongst the best he ever had at Burnley. Now we get to see whether he and his team can kick on from here.
Up Next: Liverpool vs Nottm Forest, Monday at 3am (NZT)
Indiah-Paige Riley - PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
You know you’ve scored a good one when every single outfielder on the team gets involved in the celebration huddle. Indi Riley’s second goal for PSV was something else. Keeper did get a hand on it but wasn’t able to keep that long bomb from dropping over the line to give PSV an early lead at home against Utrecht. That was a special one from IPR, who played up as the left winger in this match.
PSV went on to win it 4-0. A penalty late in the first half put them in control of a game that they always looked like winning. Joelle Smits doing the honours. Riley might have scored their third on 69’ but the square ball was just a little out in front of her so she left it for Chimera Ripa who buried the chance. Then Maxime Snellenberg polished it ogg on 81’. IPR was subbed off with a job well done just before that last goal, in fact it was Snellenberg who replaced her (so give Riley the assist?). Following a pair of league defeats this was an important return to form for PSV, especially right before an international window (which the Football Ferns won’t be involved in)... and it was their kiwi winger who got them going.
Up Next: Excelsior vs PSV on Monday 6 November (NZT)
Matthew Garbett - NAC Breda (Dutch Eerste Divisie)
It’s been a stuttering start to the season for Matt Garbett. He dealt with a back injury during preseason then suffered an ankle knock a few games in. He’d only just returned to action when the All Whites fixtures happened but he managed to start and go ninety against Australia and then went straight back into the XI for NAC Breda’s match against Telstar a few days later. He’d started one game all term prior to that and it was the one in which he hurt his ankle, having to be subbed off after only twenty minutes.
But it’s time to put the word out that Matty G’s back up. A goal on his return to the starting eleven makes it clear, his first of the season and no doubt the first of many. Telstar had actually taken an eighth minute lead via a Zakaria Eddahchouri banger and it was looking grim for Breda until a Dominik Janosek penalty following a handball tied things up on 20’. The lads in yellow and black began to cook from there. Still 1-1 at the break but then Matt Garbett, in the 66th minute, showing some killer movement and a wicked finish, put them into the lead. Tom Boere added a third with twenty to go before Telstar ended with ten men after Sebbe Augustijns was sent off for a second yellow.
Breda dominated that second half to make it three wins in a row. The three games since Garbett has returned from injury... surely not a coincidence (granted he did miss one of those wins while he was with the All Whites). They’ve won both games that he’s started and took 5/9 points from the three in which he’s appeared off the bench. In the six games that he hasn’t played we’re talking two wins, zero draws, and four defeats. Tells you all you need to know, really.
NAC Breda with Garbett on the pitch:
192 mins | 6 GF | 3 GA | +3 GD | +1.45 GD/90m
NAC Breda without Garbett on the pitch:
798 mins | 15 GF | 18 GA | -3 GD | -0.33 GD/90
Up Next: Saturday at 7am, NAC Breda vs Helmond Sport (NZT)
Elijah Just - AC Horsens (Danish Division 1)
Eli Just was the first of the All Whites to return to club action after the international window and he set a tone for the rest of them to follow. They left him on the bench to begin with – standard procedure after international duty – but trailing 1-0 they threw him on at the midway stage and quarter of an hour later he buried his second goal of the season to tie things up...
Alas, Horsens only held that parity for all of four minutes before they were losing again and this time they never found a response. A 2-1 defeat against Vendyssel means they miss the chance to overtake them on the table, keeping ACH in the bottom half of the standings. We’re only 13 games deep so still a long, long way before the league splits in half and a good month of form can change everything in these leagues. As long as Eli Just is banging away goals then they’re in an alright place.
Up Next: Saturday at 6am, Horsens vs Hillerød (NZT)
Ali Riley - Angel City FC (American National Women’s Soccer League)
The road has come to an end for Angel City in 2023. The five-goal explosion in the final round that took them into an unlikely first-ever playoff appearance was not to be repeated against perennial contenders OL Reign. They started brightly, with Ali Riley at right back, but couldn’t find the goals that they did last week.
It was all scoreless at the break but the playoff pedigree of the Reign came into focus in the second half. Megan Rapinoe (in what would’ve been her last NWSL game had they lost) went close with a chance. The Reign then hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line. Rapinoe had another effort that was tipped wide by the goalie. All of that was within ten minutes of the second half kickoff... the Angels survived that onslaught only to see Rose Lavelle subbed on for their opponents. Still they hung on. Ali Riley was subbed after 80 minutes as part of their refreshments. Alas, Veronica Latsko headed in the winner for OLR in the 87th. 1-0 to OL Reign.
Angel City did superbly just to make the playoffs but they weren’t able to go any further. Plenty to build upon though. This was Ali Riley’s first NWSL finals game coming in her third season. Abby Erceg has played 10 playoff games and Rosie White is the only other kiwi to have gone that far in this competition. Just the two NZers involved in the NWSL for 2023, the fewest we’ve had since 2016. Given that Riley is 35 and Erceg 33 you’d hope we can replenish those stocks sooner rather than later (although both of them are under contract moving forward)... then again the main reason there hasn’t been a kiwi NWSL debut since Ali Riley in 2021 is that our best young players now move to Europe were there are more/better opportunities.
Up Next: The long, gruelling offseason
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
The road has come to an end for Minnesota United as well. Boxy did his bit to extend things but his goal came too late to salvage what ended up as a 3-1 defeat against Sporting Kansas City. The Loons needed to win. Instead they were 2-0 down after 31 minutes and it was all uphill from there.
Two subs were made at HT. They didn’t help things. Boxall got a yellow card for... not much, just a cheeky shove of a bloke at the end of a challenge... but it did show the rising frustrations as MNUFC struggled to get anything going against a good Sporting KC team. Then in the 78th they conceded again. Goal scored because Boxall failed to clear the ball in time and got charged down. At least he made amends by leaping high to restore things to how they were before. It was his second goal of the year but it wasn’t enough. SKC advance to the play-in game at the expense of the Loons. Season over.
There was better news for Bill Tuiloma and Charlotte FC. An early goal from Kerwin Vargas was enough to beat Inter Miami 1-0 and send them into the Eastern Conference play-in where they’ll meet New York Red Bulls for a place in the top eight. Let’s be honest, Bill Tuiloma hasn’t gotten a minute for them since July. He’s only been an unused sub since returning from injury and he was an unused sub here again, same as he’ll probably be an unused sub in that knockout game too. But he’s ready to go just in case.
Note also that Michael Boxall is off contract at the end of the year. The Loons are seeking to hire a new manager and you never know what that might mean for a 35 year old veteran defender. Luckily Boxy’s reputation across the MLS is such that if he wants to go around again he’ll be able to, whether for Minnesota United or someone else. It’s a situation to watch though – as is the Bill Tuiloma stuff given how far out of favour he seems to have fallen, it’s been a poor season from him which hasn’t been helped at all by how CFC have tried to use him.
Up Next: Thursday at 12.30pm, NY Red Bulls vs Charlotte (NZT)
CJ Bott - Leicester City (English Super League)
Watch that replay there and count how many times CJ Bott steps into a tackle. If you make it all the way to nine then congratulations you’ve found them all – your prize is in the mail. There are only 26 players in the WSL who have made 9+ tackles across the four rounds of this new season and CJB just did that in a single game. She was one of the very best tacklers in the league last season, both in terms of volume and success, and seems to be on the same trajectory again this time.
Unfortunately that wasn’t enough to topple Manchester City with all their many weapons (even though both teams did enter this match undefeated). Chloe Kelly scored in the tenth minute to put City on top with a shot that crept under the usually rock-solid Janina Leitzig in goal... but City never pulled away. In fact it was actually quite a closely fought match in which the Foxes were only slightly edged in most of the major stats. Their combative approach went far beyond Bott with Jutta Rantala and Sophie Howard also digging in. They weren’t great with their passing against a difficult team but they also ensured that Man City weren’t exactly flowing freely either.
The last four times that these two teams have met add up to a 14-1 aggregate score in favour of Manchester City so the eventual 1-0 defeat is even better in that context. They had some spells of serious pressure too... just couldn’t find an equaliser (and, to be fair, did dodge a few huge chances for City to extend their lead). Bott played ninety minutes on the right side of a back three. A little different to how she’s usually deployed so count that as another string to her bow. It’s a disappointing defeat yet one that again shows that they can compete with anyone right now.
Didn’t get anything from the other two WSL comrades. Ria Percival and Anna Leat were both unused subs as Leat’s Villa lost 4-2 to Percy’s Tottenham. Guess they didn’t want to waste Percival’s two-game ongoing goal scoring streak on a late cameo.
Up Next: After they international break they’re away to Liverpool at 3am on Monday 6 Nov (NZT)
Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)
Chris Wood is in a small pocket of regular starts, Liberato Cacace is in a much larger pocket of regular starts. the bloke who was stealing his minutes is out longer term... meanwhile the bloke who stole his minutes last season now plays for Fiorentina and guess who Empoli met this week? Libby Cacace vs Fabby Parisi. Maybe this time Empoli would actually score a goal.
There were shades of the All Whites vs Australia when Cacace was beaten to a back post header by Nico Gonzalez early on... but his keeper saved the header and then he saved the follow-up and the game remained level. After which the much more fancied Fiorentina may have dominated the ball but they weren’t doing much with it. Empoli’s defence has been okay this season. They’ve shown an ability to sit deep and soak pressure (not always but sometimes, sure). It’s scoring goals that’s been the issue so when Francesco Caputo dinked them into the lead after 21 minutes, against the run of play with their first decent chance, it was quite a moment.
Heck, they were almost 2-0 up at the break. A move begun by Cacace angling infield and creating room for his winger out wide by dragging a defender led to Caputo seemingly converting with a diving header... only it turns out he actually used his hand (albeit barely) and the goal was disallowed. Still, nothing wrong with being 1-0 up at the half. From there you don’t have to guess that they decided to sit deeper and deeper. But that plan worked. Fiorentina were settling for long shots and crosses which Empoli dealt with confidently, growing in belief as the game went on. Then they burst up the other end with ten minutes to go and Emmanuel Gyaasi scored to make it 2-0. Cacace was subbed off after 83 mins, immediately following the second goal. Simone Bastoni replaced him.
So it was that Empoli claimed a 2-0 win in the Tuscan Derby. New/Old manager Aurelio Aurezzoli gets the credit for turning them around but we all know that this team has been better when Libby Cacace plays. The stats are skewed because he did conveniently miss a couple of games against the big dog teams... but the won this one so the trend remains. This was only the second game in which they’ve scored yet they’ve managed to win both of them... thus they’re now out of the relegation zone after nine games.
Up Next: Tuesday at 6am, Empoli vs Atalanta (NZT)
Marko Stamenic - FK Crvena Zvezda (Serbian SuperLiga)
Things don’t seem to come easy for Red Star at the moment but they did still bag another valuable three points with a 3-2 win over Javor. Marko Stamenic started in a slightly different midfield shape with both Guelor Kanga and Mirko Ivanic joining him in a trio, which itself wasn’t unusual but the 3-5-2 shape definitely isn’t their standard operating method. They have been a tactically flexible side under Barak Bakhar this season though.
Like with many games, Red Star were on top from the get-to with Stamenic trying an ambitious volley after five mins (on target but with no major power behind it). They hit the crossbar through Peter Olayinka five mins later, so when an own goal put them up after 15’ it had already felt inevitable. Stam tried a long shot that fizzed low and off target as the pressure continued, as well as another that he got on target and was parried to where a teammate almost capitalised... but it was only 1-0 at the half (with Cherif Ndiaye and Mirko Ivanic having also hit the woodwork).
That failure to make the most of their dominance caused an extremely unsettling twenty minutes in the second half as they conceded an own goal themselves and then, after retaking the lead through Olayinka, a second equaliser had them in big trouble of more dropped points. Stamenic was subbed after 67 mins, soon after the 2-2 goal, having completed 44/47 passes (two key passes) with a couple of shots on target. Solid from him but they needed more attacking juice. Eventually Jovan Mijatovic gave them that with a 79th minute winner.
Red Star had 70% of the ball and attempted 34 shots. There was no righteous way that the game should have been that close but the important thing was the victory. Particularly because TSC only drew away against Vozdovac which means that Crvena zvezda are extend the gap in second-place on the ladder. Partizan are on 28 points, Red Star on 24 points, TSC on 21 points. Each have played 10 games. That’s three Superliga wins in a row for Zvezda although they’ve all been by just a single goal. Focus now shifts back towards the Champions League with a trip to Germany awaiting.
Up Next: UCL group stage, RB Leipzig vs Red Star Belgrade, 8am on Thursday (NZT)
Claudia Bunge & Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Kvindeliga)
The first half of HBK’s game against last-placed Thy-Thisted were a disaster. First they conceded against the lowest scoring team in the league and then Daisy Cleverley was subbed off after 25 minutes. Can’t find any information on that so hopefully it was only a precautionary injury thing. We don’t want a serious injury. We also don’t want it to have been a tactical thing where she was seen as the expendable player. A minor knock that requires no further time off is the best case. Back to the game itself, things weren’t looking good at that stage... but eventually HBK strolled home with three goals in the second half. 3-1 victory. Claudia Bunge played the whole thing. It’s a win that sends them top of the table.
It ended up being a good week for all the relevant clubs... but not necessarily for the kiwi players involved. FC Nordsjælland also came from a goal down to win 2-1 away against Fortuna Hjørring however Malia Steinmetz was only on the bench and wasn’t required. Thankfully Ally Green did get a full game as AGF won 2-0 against Kolding so that was cool. Kolding were the league leaders so that win allows both HBK and FCN to rise up a spot on the ladder.
Up Next: BIF vs HBK on 5 November at 12.45am (NZT)
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
We might have to awaken from the dream of Viking FK winning Norway’s Eliteserien. They’ve been stumbling lately and this week they tripped with a 4-3 loss to Tromsø. Admittedly that was their toughest remaining fixture... but the way things stand it’s now much more about trying to hold onto second place rather than chasing down Bodø/Glimt for first.
Joe Bell was dropped to the bench for this match with Patrick Yazbek, Markus Solbakken, and Harald Tangen forming the midfield trio. It’s felt at times that Bell and Solbakken are a bit too similar to function at each of their full capacities together so this wasn’t something that came as a shock. Solbakken even wears Bell’s old number 8 jersey. Plus the curly hair. It’s uncanny.
Anyway, it was 0-0 at half-time of a game without too many clear chances... but the second half would explode into chaos as Tromsø scored twice within six minutes of the resumption. Suddenly VFK were in a massive hole. The Aussie brother Yazbek hauled them back in range with a smooth finish after 62 mins. That was followed by a double sub but Bell would have to wait a little longer. When he did finally get introduced in the 78th minute (part of a triple sub) it was still 2-1 to Tromsø but Viking had been firmly knocking at the door.
Straight afterwards came an equaliser through Sondre Aucklend – so immediately that Bell only had time to touch the ball once – and then, incredibly, they took the lead through Lars-Jørgen Salvesen heading home off an 84th minute corner kick. They’ve had a few great comeback wins this season and this was looking like another... until they conceded first in the 89th minute and then 90+4th minute. Goalkeeper made a mess of the equaliser and got his angles wrong for the winner. An incredible game of football ultimately ended up being a heartbreaker for Viking. The kind of heartbreaker that can derail an entire season’s confidence.
Well, nothing to it but to dust themselves off and try win their remaining five games. They’re now six points behind Bodø/Glimt and only two points above both Brann and Tromsø. Only the champions get Champions League and then second and third go into Conference League qualifiers so there isn’t a major difference between those spots except that fourth place would get them nothing. Viking came third in Bell’s last season of his previous stint with the club and that was their best effort for more than a decade. The club were Norwegian champions in 1991 but since then have had six third-placed finishes and nothing better. It’d be a shame if they didn’t at least hold on to second.
Up Next: Strømsgodset vs Viking at 5am on Monday (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
It took a while but we got there in the end. A return to the Eredivisie for Ryan Thomas who was subbed on late in PEC Zwolle’s 4-2 win away against Excelsior. Thomas had not played in a proper game since May, after picking up an injury late in preseason and then having his recovery delayed further by illness and then a lack of match fitness. They’ll probably be careful building him back up from here but the important thing is that he’s back. He’s ready. He’s available. This win snapped a three game losing streak for PEC and lifts them up to ninth in the table – almost exactly in the middle. Perfectly adequate for a freshly promoted team after nine weeks.
Up Next: Vitesse vs PEC Zwolle at 7am on Saturday (NZT)
Katie Bowen - Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)
Bouncing back from the Roma defeat with a clean sheet win against Napoli. Flaminia Simonetti with a wonderful volley on 30’ and then Michela Cambiaghi converting from close on 46’ (32 seconds into the second half). More than a couple of frisky moments along the way, especially in the second half. It certainly was not an easy clean sheet. They had to work for that one and they got the prizes. Doubt you even need to be told that Katie Bowen got ninety mins at centre-back again.
Up Next: A week off for the internationals that the Football Ferns aren’t playing
Olivia Page - Sheffield United (England Championship)
Always do love some Conti Cup football. Kiwi teenager Olivia Page hasn’t played a league game for Sheffield United yet but their 3-2 win against Sunderland in the EFL Cup allowed for enough changes to give the ex-Eastern Suburbs defender her first opportunity. Looks to have played as a midfielder. Good yarns.
Elsewhere in the English Championship, we’re a couple months into the season and still haven’t had a sight of Ashleigh Ward for Southampton. She was listed in their wider squad for this term so either she’s completely out of favour or perhaps is dealing with a longer term injury of some sorts. However it’s better news for Grace Neville and Paige Satchell who are both now regulars for London City Lionesses. Hasn’t been a great season for that club so far but they did grind out an impressive 1-0 win over the Ward-less Southampton. Both Neville and Satchell got ninety minutes there.
Up Next: International break for the second tier women as well
Andre De Jong – Stellenbosch (South African Premier Soccer League)
The pesky buggers won’t put up the video (there’s only the awful quality amateur rips on YouTube) but Andre De Jong did score for the Stellies in a cup game this week. A sharp left footed finish into the bottom corner following up on a parried effort from a teammate. Gave his team the lead in what ended up being a 2-1 win against Chippa United that’s sent them into the quarterfinals of what’s now known as the Carling Knockout Cup but used to be the Telkom Cup.
He hasn’t scored a heap of goals this year but he has managed to find the back of the net in all three South African cups (the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup being the other two). Hasn’t yet scored a league goal yet... that must be next.
Up Next: Polokwane City vs Stellenbosch on Sunday TBD (NZT)
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